Moose Tracking: Worst betting beats of the weekend

Moose Tracking: Worst betting beats of the weekend article feature image

Bettor beware: a 900-pound moose is loose after being freed from a swing set in Washington.

For those of you not familiar with the term "Moose," it has been used for years within the sports betting world to reference a bad beat. It originated within the old school gambling forums more than 15 years ago, and has stuck ever since.

Every Monday, I will highlight the five biggest "mooses" from the weekend across all sports from my perspective (I can't see everything). If you had the misfortune of betting on three of the five on the list,  you will be inducted into the "Sports Action Moose Hall of Fame Club," get some gear, and potentially win some cash if you are a "Pro" member on the Sports Action App.

One note before diving in: I had the over 53 in Pats-Steelers, which did not make the list below despite Big Ben's last-second pick wiping away any chance at a cover. The reason I left it off? All of us over bettors had to get a little lucky in order to get screwed, which isn't really a Moose. The Pats scored 11 points in the final four minutes to get it within striking distance. Not a great beat by any means, but not as bad as any of the ones below.

Let's get into the five worst beats of this past weekend.


5. Broncos/Colts Over 40.5

Leading 25-13 with just under three minutes left in the game, Denver had a first and 10 at the Indianapolis 13-yard line.

The good news? Over backers simply needed a field goal to cash their tickets.

The bad news? Vance Joseph decided not to kick a field goal on fourth and 10.


4. South Dakota State +5

This one had to feel like getting a tooth pulled for anybody that backed the underdog. Colorado missed a jumper to win it at the end of regulation, and then South Dakota State missed a jumper to win at the end of overtime before eventually falling 112-103 in double overtime.


3. Saints/Jets Under 46.5

The Jets scored a touchdown with under two minutes to go to cut the Saints' lead to 24-19. Under bettors had to feel safe after New Orleans recovered the onside kick, but Mark Ingram broke a 50-yard touchdown run with 90 seconds remaining to push the game over the total.

Mark Ingram showing everyone why he won the Heisman Trophy #BuiltByBamapic.twitter.com/KqKnHW6Kiq

— Alabama DieHards (@AlabamaDieHards) December 18, 2017


2. USC -12

USC led by 19 points at the half and by as many as 25 points in the second half. The Trojans even held a 20-point lead with 1:19 left in the game before the following played out over the final 79 seconds.

  • UCSB dunk (98-80)
  • USC miss/offensive rebound/turnover/foul
  • UCSB makes both free throws (98-82)
  • UCSB fouls
  • USC misses the front end
  • UCSB makes 3 (98-85)
  • UCSB fouls with 17 seconds left
  • USC misses both free throws
  • UCSB hits jumper at the buzzer (98-87 final)

The Gauchos' jumper at the buzzer put them inside the number for the first time in the second half.


1. 76ers/Thunder Under 213

The Thunder led 94-83 with 5:45 to go before the 76ers finished the game on an 11-0 run to force overtime. Yes, an NBA team did not score over the last five minutes and forty-five seconds of regulation.

The worst part is under backers still would have found their way to the window if the game finished after one overtime, but they had to painfully watch this game go to double overtime tied 102-102.

The Thunder eventually held on for a 119-117 win in triple overtime in what was the first NBA game of the season to feature multiple overtimes.

Major #Moose for Under (213) bettors in that insane Thunder-76ers game.

Score with 5:35 left in 4Q: 94-83 OKC

PHI scored 11 unanswered to force OT

3 OTs later: 119-117 OKC win pic.twitter.com/FylCJJTZXG

— The Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 16, 2017


Moose Club Hall of Fame:

@tfil
@brandobangs
@martinmfly
@rhartley91


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